BA Graphic Design with Foundation Year
About this course
BA (Hons) Graphic Design with Foundation Year is an undergraduate design degree focused on visual communication, creative practice, and professional contexts. Core topics include Computer Architecture, Ethics & Professional Practice, and Design & Creative Practice. Students can choose to undertake an optional placement year or a year abroad, and the course includes a compulsory foundation year. The course begins with a foundation year covering Creative Studies, Creative Technologies, History and Theory of Creative Practice, Creative Skills: 2D and 3D Making, and Negotiated Project. Year 1 introduces the essentials through Investigating Visual Communication, Graphic Design Essentials, Graphic Design Studio, Creative Debates, and Creative Interventions. Year 2 advances into critical practice and professional contexts with modules such as Critical Practice and Visual Research, Visual Systems and Strategies, Defining Your Practice, and Professional Contexts, alongside options in digital, social, materials, culture, and enterprise labs. The final year involves independent and live studio work through modules like The Design Sprint, The Applied Live Studio, and The Independent Creative Project, with further optional modules available in digital strategies, social practice strategies, materials, curatorial strategies, enterprise, and critical strategies.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
UCAS tariff: 72 A level: DDD T Level: Pass BTEC: MMP GCSE: GCSE Maths and English are preferred, however if you don't have these qualifications you will be able to undertake Maths and English at Level 2 as part of your course of study Access to HE: Pass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 0, Merit: 30, Pass: 15 English language: IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)
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What students say
Based on about 39 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 86%
- Learning opportunities: 78%
- Assessment and feedback: 85%
- Academic support: 84%
- Organisation and management: 61%
- Learning resources: 77%
- Student voice: 79%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 100 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 57%
- Gained a higher qualification: 19%
- Left higher education: 23%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 1%
What graduates do next
Based on about 39 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 76%
- Working and studying: 11%
- Further study: 4%
- Unemployed: 1%
Most common jobs
- Web and Multimedia Design Professionals: 15%
- Design occupations: 15%
- Elementary occupations: 9%
- Science, engineering and technology associate professionals: 8%
- Skilled trades occupations: 6%
- Find their work meaningful: 60%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 65%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 50%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 180 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 3%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 7%
- East Midlands: 55%
- West Midlands: 23%
- East of England: 3%
- London: 3%
- South East: 4%
- South West: 1%
- Wales: 1%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 80 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 85%
- Other HE qualification: 11%
- Other qualifications: 1%
- No formal qualifications: 3%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Gold for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Applied Professional Practice
- Contemporary Issues in Professional Practice
- Creative Studies
- Creative Technologies
- History and Theory of Creative Practice
- Creative Skills: 2D and 3D Making
- Negotiated Project
- Investigating Visual Communication
- Graphic Design Essentials
- Graphic Design Studio
- Creative Debates
- Creative Interventions
- Critical Practice and Visual Research
- Visual Systems and Strategies
- Defining Your Practice
- Professional Contexts
- Digital Lab - Explorations
- Social Practice Lab – Explorations
- Materials Lab - Explorations
- Culture Lab - Image Explorations
- Creative Industry and Enterprise Lab - Explorations
- The Design Sprint
- The Applied Live Studio
- The Independent Creative Project
- Digital Lab - Strategies
- Social Practice Lab - Strategies
- Materials Lab - Strategies
- Culture Lab - Curatorial Strategies
- Creative Industry and Enterprise Lab - Strategies
- Independent Critical Strategies
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Graphic Design with Foundation Year at University of Derby earn?
The median salary is £25,000 after 15 months, £19,000 after 3 years, £24,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £18,500 and £28,500. The £24,500 median after five years is £1,500 less than the UK median for Design studies.
What do graduates of BA Graphic Design with Foundation Year at University of Derby do next?
92% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Graphic Design with Foundation Year at University of Derby?
86% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Graphic Design with Foundation Year at University of Derby?
The typical offer is DDD at A level. The average entrant had 102 UCAS points.
Does BA Graphic Design with Foundation Year at University of Derby include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Graphic Design with Foundation Year at University of Derby?
57% of students continued into their second year, and 23% left higher education.